[Summerleft]

Ok so going to be doing some indoor stuff soon, so far so good ive always discarded the stuff with horrendous shadows etc but I need a more scientific way of sorting it not just leave it to luck now people are going to be paying me!

My camera is the E-300 Olympus but Im confused why is it the ISO only goes 100, 200, 400 and A ? from what ive been able to pick up it should be going a lot higher on this type of camera, or have i got some other setting incorrect?

Secondly more general, i only have the inbuilt flash to work with, I was fiddling about with it all yesterday but its seems as soon as you take it out of Auto(which it seems to do perfectly well) it has a paddy, ( although more likely my fiddling not the cameras fault) How do i gaurantee that non washed out someones standing behind you look/shadow?

I was looking on a togs site (not from here) and they had indoor pics but the pics all had the above which is quite scary really, if they have trouble how will i cope!

Hope that makes sense

thanks guys

[Markulous]

• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• Expanded: ISO 800, ISO 1600

So I'm guessing there's a setting to get into "Expanded" but:

• Recommended sensitivity ISO 100 - 400, images at ISO 800 usable, ISO 1600 not really

You really need an alternative, seperate flash to get reasonable indoor flash shots - and any 'tog should know that (so I question the site you looked at)! But if you drape a paper tissue over your flash it will at least soften the light (tho' at the expense of distance)

[silkstone]

Yep, it's just about impossible to avoid harsh shadows with the built-in flash, although you can diffuse it a little so it's not so much of a point source.

If there isn't enough ambient light, you really need an external flashgun and to bounce the flash and/or use a diffuser like a Stofen or one of the weird looking Gary Fong things or a clone. Bouncing or diffusing the flash reduces the range considerably, so a powerful flashgun is best.

[Dabhand16]

Using the inbuilt flash is not really ideal as Mark has said. You can have a practice by trying (in no particular order) -

Keeping the subject well away from walls.
Light the wall with additional lighting to reduce the intensity of the shadow (don't think this will be effective without some distance between wall and subject too).
Don't use the flash - but ensure there is reasonable ambient light. Consider using ambient light and a reflector.
Reduce the power of the flash.

If you want to try manual settings, aperture = guide number divided by distance. Try 1/30 or 1/50th sec

[Summerleft]

thanks guys, Ive sorted the ISO i was being thick! your quite right theres a ISO boost which i had swtched off so got it now lol

Thinking of getting an external flash, Ive had a look around and the price range seems pretty widespread.

[Ali]

I do very little indoor photography, but getting an external flash made a huge difference to the quality of my indoor shots on the occasions I do take anything inside. It was a worthy investment.

[knobby]

Get yourself a used vivitar 283 on ebay, also a remote trigger or slave to fit under the flash
you can then sheild the camera flash or use it on low power to give a decent fill light and bounce the vivi off the ceiling
I only suggest the vivi as my dad has one, and has done since i was about 20 (44 now) they go for between £10 - £25 on ebay and are quite powerful and very reliable

Have a play
good luck

[silkstone]

OK but you mustn't use the Vivitar 283 direct on the camera's hot-shoe, or you may fry the camera - trigger voltages can be as high as 600V.

Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages

[knobby]

Yep, good point, even though i did'nt suggest that, good point though.
Mine does work however... all 3 of them have about 6v trigger voltage


Gaz